• With a little inspiration from Italy, everyone’s favourite South African braaibroodjie gets a welcome upgrade! Using oven-roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a sourdough/ciabatta loaf, these braaibroodjies pack a punch and look delightful on a sharing platter. 

    Cape of Good Hope recipe series by Ilse van der Merwe (thefoodfox.com)

    Photographs by Tasha Seccombe

    Balsamic-roasted tomato braaibroodjies with fior di latte and basil paired with Cape of Good Hope Riebeeksrivier Southern Slopes

    Serves: 4
    Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

    Ingredients

    • 2 tbsp olive oil + extra, to drizzle
    • 6 – 8 medium-size ripe tomatoes, halved horizontally
    • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tsp white sugar
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 8 slices good-quality sourdough/ciabatta bread
    • softened butter, to spread
    • 2 x 125g balls fior di latte cheese, sliced (find at select leading supermarkets and cheese shops)
    • handful fresh basil leaves

    Instructions

    1

    Roast the tomatoes by preheating the oven to 200°C. Place the 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium-sized baking tray and spread it all over the base of the tray. Arrange the halved tomatoes, cut-side up, on the tray, then drizzle with a little more olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with the sugar and salt and pepper to taste.

    2

    Roast the tomatoes in the preheated oven until soft and charred in places, 45 – 50 minutes. Remove from oven and leave to cool.

    3

    Lay out the slices of bread and spread with butter on the insides (and outsides, if you prefer). Arrange slices of fior di latte on 4 of the slices, sprinkle with a little salt, then top with the roasted tomato. Cover with the other halves to form a closed sandwich, then braai over cooler coals until toasty on the outside. Remove from the heat and slip a few basil leaves into each sandwich (otherwise they wilt very quickly). Serve at once.

    Imka Webb
    Author

    Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine.  www.imkawebb.com